Apparatus for studying the effects of flow fields imposed on a material during processing

Abstract

A apparatus for studying the effects of steady and transient flow fields on a sample. The apparatus includes: (a) a flow chamber through which a sample can flow comprising a port arranged to accommodate an analytical probe for measuring the properties of the sample as it moves through the flow chamber; (b) a temperature-controlled thermal reservoir that houses the flow chamber; (c) a sample reservoir comprising a chamber in communication with the flow chamber; (d) a displacement piston arranged to apply pressure, upon activation, to a sample residing in the chamber of the sample reservoir to force the sample into the flow chamber; and (e) an actuator arranged to apply pressure to the displacement piston to activate the displacement piston.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for studying the effects of steady and transient flow fields on a sample, 
       said apparatus comprising:  
       (a) a flow chamber through which a sample can flow comprising a port arranged to accommodate an analytical probe for measuring the properties of the sample as it moves through said flow chamber;  
       (b) a temperature-controlled thermal reservoir that houses said flow chamber;  
       (c) a sample reservoir comprising a chamber in communication with said flow chamber;  
       (d) a displacement piston arranged to apply pressure, upon activation, to a sample residing in said chamber of said sample reservoir to force the sample into said flow chamber; and  
       (e) an actuator arranged to apply pressure to said displacement piston to active said displacement piston,  
       wherein said apparatus is capable of rapidly and controllably altering the flow fields to which the sample is exposed. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said flow chamber is removably housed within said thermal reservoir. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said sample reservoir is temperature-controlled. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said temperature-controlled thermal reservoir is capable of performing transient temperature control. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said actuator comprises a piston arranged to apply pressure to said displacement piston to activate said displacement piston. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said actuator comprises a pneumatically driven actuator. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said actuator comprises a hydraulically driven actuator. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said flow chamber comprises a plurality of ports arranged to accommodate an analytical probe for measuring the properties of a sample as it moves through said flow chamber. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim  8  wherein said ports comprise a pair of windows mounted in said flow chamber. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim  9  wherein said windows comprise quartz windows. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim  9  wherein said windows comprise beryllium windows. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim  9  wherein said windows comprise silicon windows. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to claim  9  wherein said windows comprise calcium fluoride windows. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim  9  wherein said windows comprise polyimide windows. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said displacement piston comprises a shaft and a lip seal member mounted on said shaft. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said temperature-controlled thermal reservoir comprises a transducer arranged to measure the pressure of a sample at the entrance of said flow chamber. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said displacement piston and said actuator together are capable of applying a pressure to a sample at the entrance of said flow chamber that is at least 100 times greater than the pressure applied to said displacement piston. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said temperature-controlled thermal reservoir comprises: 
       (a) a pair of cartridge heaters;  
       (b) a thermocouple;  
       (c) a feedback temperature controller; and  
       (d) a plurality of channels through which heat transfer fluid can be circulated.  
     
     
       19. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said actuator comprises a three-way valve. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus according to claim  1  wherein said flow chamber comprises a flow channel. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus according to claim  20  wherein said flow channel has a cross-section that varies along the length of said channel.